Program Structure

The government has chosen math, computer science, physics, chemistry and biology
as the areas of primary focus for the program. Because of the high cost of equipping
laboratories and recruiting qualified professors in these specialized areas of study,
it is currently impracticable to educate the students in Rwanda.

Pools of scholarship candidates are established by the Rwandan Ministry of Education
based on national high school test scores and other objective standards, such as
English language proficiency examinations. This merit-based approach is intended
to avoid favoritism in the selection process and ensure that the government’s limited
financial resources are spent on educating its most promising students in these
designated areas.

Once these pools are established, representatives from Hendrix and other participating
schools travel to Rwanda and select scholarship recipients based on national test
scores, high school transcripts, English language proficiency and personal interviews.
Recipients receive four-year, undergraduate scholarships subject to satisfactory
academic performance. In return, the students are required to return to Rwanda following
graduation and work for a minimum of five years. They also repay the Rwandan government
a portion of the funds advanced to cover costs of the program such as room, board,
transportation and living allowances.